orangetoughguy | log post II

[Nudged, the kid looks up and smiles...behind a facade of nonchalance.]

Sure I can spare the time. [He gulps down the rest of his drink then puts his cigarette out in it like a super cool guy. Except the cup is plastic.] Oh shit!

[So much for that, now they need another cup too.]

[Clunk of his own cup down, Larry grabs Freddy's and puts it under the faucet. Too late now though the water runs through the sizable hole. He laughs.]

Knuckle head.

[Well, he'll finish his.]

I needa change. How about a driveby? We'll grab food. But you'll need to be careful.

[Freddy rubs the back of his neck feeling a little dumb for letting that happen. At least Larry finds it funny.]

Sure. [Wait.] Careful of what?

[Here. Larry'll rub his head now.]

Any more accidents. You met your quota. And I don't wanna have to come home and change, pal. No hard feelin's.

[Ffffff. Freddy just snorts over that.] Yeah yeah go put another shirt on.

[Freddy too, seeing as how he also has some rum and coke on him but he was too busy telling his story to notice. He throw on a Fantastic Four shirt on to commemorate the event thanks, under some lightweight flannel of course.]

[The old man brought a jacket in case if it gets cold on the trail. Late afternoon with tacos digesting in their bellies they pull up to the farm. Larry tries to keep his demeanor cool if not indifferent. A smile keeps on coming onto his face.

And there is no way to hide it when they get into the barn.]

Holy shit they got more than a few.

[Nothing like some kind of a dollar fifty pony ride at a fair.]

You know this whole time I kinda thought you meant renting a horse from a stable.

[Not hijacking a horse on their own terms even if it's just for a little while. Not that Freddy is backing out either, he's walking on in right after Lawrence Dimick, flannel tied around his waist to boldly display the blue 4 on his chest.]

[Larry waves off the comment and goes to introduce himself to a few of those long faces looking over the stall doors.]

Just a little while. Besides, how're we supposed to know there's some office or somethin'. Did you see any signs anywhere?

[Yep. They're doing this the Dimick way. Horsing around.]

How're you, buddy?

[The first horse has a two tone nose and wants to get attention from those paws.]

No, I didn't see a thing.

[Freddy admits with a shake of his head. The Dimick way it is then. Besides it sounds fun and exciting like they're a pair of teenagers just screwing around and for rarely not screwing that way. Seeing Larry talk to a horse like the long face is a friend in the making also brings a smile to his own.]

Uh, hi. [He tries it too towards a gray-faced silver-maned horse who just snorts at him.]

[Just men and horses. They'll come to an understanding on their own.]

Here, lemme try that guy. Say hi to my friend here.

[Larry pulls at Freddy to touch on the painted horse while he tries to reason with the other.]

Bet you guys wouldn't mind goin' for a walk right? Huh?

[He's not undone by the snorting. Hand flat he sees if the horse decides to be more agreeable. There are plenty others here.]

[He's letting Larry take the lead in this situation so Freddy shifts his focus from the silver bullet to the cow splotched equine.]

Hi.

[Again. The kid touches this horse who seems to be a little more agreeable. Who knows why. Wuffle wuffle, its lipping his knuckles. No treats? Fff.] Do you know how to put the stuff on'em?

[He's asking Larry because if he doesn't well all Freddy has to go by are his Jonah Hex comics and a couple Clint Eastwood movies.]

[Oh good. Freddy has a buddy. Just when Larry is about to give silver bullet the boot he comes around. He likes his ears scratched.]

Uh huh. Looks like they got their gear not far off. You keep playing nice. I'll handle it.

[He gives Silver a pat and then goes to figure out what to do with the painted horse.]

You wanna give this guy a go? He seems like less of an asshole.

[Clink of metal in the buckles as he finds one bridle. The Wisconsin cowboy knows enough to get it on silver.]

Okay. [That said to Larry, then he's talking to the horse.] You're kind of a big guy huh?

[Pat pat. Cow's average for a horse, not exactly the biggest stallion in here, but he's a lot bigger than Freddy Newendyke that's for sure. Just wait for when Freddy has to hop onto him. Sure ain't like mounting Christie Love.] Yeah, I can handle this. I could handle an asshole too but I might be a little mean about it.

[Freddy shrugs, passing off Silver's 'tude like it ain't no thing. Fff. This Californian is following that Wisconsinite's motions but always a step behind in case he gets it wrong.]

I think you two'll get along just fine.

[Cow takes to the bridle just fine.] That's a good boy. [Many reassuring pats. So far so good. Saddle blanket only to be followed by saddle. Larry does the honors because it takes both hands and the height.]

Okay. I think that about covers it.

[Larry hands over the reins.]

Lemme hitch up my guy. We'll walk out together.

[Freddy's watching and learning but mostly watching because he's never seen Larry act so professional and cool towards something that wasn't crook-related. As a matter of fact, Larry's treatment towards the horses reminds him a lot of what the old man's mentioned of Truck. Just a boy and his dog, an old man and his horses.]

Who taught you about horses?

[Or did he, like a young Freddy Newendyke, learn by devouring books? Except horseback riding is more applicable to real life than how to capture Galactus.]

Huh? [He's been roused from his kinda horse driven lala land.]

I watched a lotta cowboy movies, you know. So uh I read everything I could. Then when I was able to get around on a bike I found stables and watched then gave it a try myself.

[Without permission. Thus the Dimick Method of Horsemanship was born. Silver is saddled and Larry leans him out nice and easy.]

Not quite a cowboy but good enough.

Got it. [The kid knows exactly how reading your way to greatness goes.] Bullshit all you need is a hat. You got the jeans already.

[He doesn't see Larry as a leather chaps and bandana kind of guy. Just a t-shirt, some denim, a cigarette, and a hat to keep the sun out of his eyes. Oh and sweat too. And the smell of rugged testosterone--right. Freddy rouses himself from his kinda Cowboy Dimick driven la la land. He leads the Cow out after Silver.]

[Larry'd like to believe that he could live off of the land and see it all from the back of a horse. Except he likes his showers and fine restaurants. Some folks can have it all with the country club. He's pretty sure he's not one of those men. Property is enough to manage as it is.

A glance back at Freddy gets him smiling again. The kid looks pretty natural with a horse. Sure he isn't an Indian but he'll be Tonto today. Ah. The fresh air all around em makes a man feel good to be alive and able to do shit like this.

Larry keeps a firm hold on Silver as he turns to his pardner.]

Now you wanna boost?

[Because Cow isn't Christie Love.]

....What's that supposed to mean?

[Freddy asks while giving Larry a look. Cow is giving him a look too but it's a little more vapid than the foxhound's. All in all he is outright daring Larry to call him short. He is for a cornbread white twenty-seven year old Dutch-descended American male. But rare is the occasion that Lawrence Dimick does things because he's short.]

I'm asking if you want to mount yourself or not.

[No he's not scared. Though if Freddy's gonna be like this when he's trying to help, the old man can mount all on his own. C'mon Larry. Don't be a dipshit. This is your idea of an outing after all. Let the kid do whatever it is he's gonna do.]

Sometimes it's tricky.

[For everybody. See? Stature is one factor of this assessment but far be it from Larry to point it out. Besides, he wants to possibly get laid tonight.]

I can do it.

[Freddy insists with one foot in the stirrup. He places both freckled hands on the saddle...then kind of just idles there. Come on Newendyke, do it. Try it. The old man's not gonna think less of you if you fall. Right? Huff huff. Okay, 1, 2, 3...oof! Freddy tries to swing his leg over but falls short of the saddle. Cow takes a couple steps forward, unaware his rider is an amateur and not quite in the saddle yet.]

Hey hey hey stop. Stop horse. [Freddy hops those couple steps on one foot. Awkward. At least Cow stops walking forward.]

Good boy.

[He's talking to the horse, rewarding him for the stop. Larry brings Silver on closer keeping his ride in check as he smooths the other's nose.]

Got it okay? I'll hold him still.

[This is how people get hurt but the old man will wait a moment more before offering a hand without words this time.]

[A little red faced but otherwise unhurt. Freddy averts his gaze because damnit Larry knew better and unlike heists being a rookie to horse riding is a little more embarrassing. Simply because it's something 'normal' Larry enjoys and Freddy here, well he's not making the grade. Yet. With silent thanks for those silent helping paws the kid tries again. Once. Twice. He gets his leg over on the third try.]

I got it.

[Yeah Newendyke, you prove you can fly down from the lofty realm of superheroes and rough it like a wild west hero. Because Larry likes it.]

I knew you could.

[The old man gives him a smile. No laugh in sight because he was too busy thinking about how bad it would be if he fell on his head. He hands over the reins again and gives Freddy's thigh a pat. Now he'll mount.

It's not a fluid motion but once both hands are on the saddle and he gets the right leverage it's up and over into the saddle. Here they are, a couple of badass motherfuckers going for a ride on the trail.]

Ready?

[The thigh patting gets another look. They're not holding and squeezing but that's called touching. However it's brief enough that Freddy's focus still stays on not falling on his head. Watching Larry mount with better ease just makes him snort. Fff. But damn does he look good on Silver.]

I'm ready. Age before beauty.

[He says instead of begging Larry to go first so he can get the hang of riding Cow without looking as stupid.]

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